Black Infant Health
(BIH) Program

Experts believe that social, economic and racial stresses play an important role in poor birth outcomes—babies born too early and too small—for African-American women. Within a culturally affirming environment and honoring the unique history of African-American women, Black Infant Health (BIH) aims to help women have healthy babies. Participants learn proven strategies to reduce stress and develop life skills. This is accomplished through a group-based approach with complementary case management. The group experience builds social support, which helps buffer the negative effects of stress and empowers participants to make positive choices in their life. Weekly group sessions help women access their own strengths and set health-promoting goals for themselves and their babies. Ultimately, this approach will impact not only themselves, but future generations of African-American women, infants and families.

The program includes empowerment-focused group support services and case management to improve the health and social conditions for African-American women and their families. Activities draw from promis-ing practices and are based on the findings of a 2010 comprehensive assessment of the BIH model.

Group Sessions: BIH provides 10 prenatal and 10 post-partum sessions designed to empower and support participants. Group sessions are offered in a culturally sensitive setting that respects participant values and beliefs. Attendees interact with other mothers and women who are pregnant. The sessions offer engaging activities from a women’s health perspective that explore pregnancy and parenting.

Session Topics:

Cultural Heritage as a Source of Pride

Healthy Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery

Nurturing Ourselves & Our Babies

Prenatal, Postnatal & Newborn Care

Stress Management

Healthy Relationships

Celebrating Our Families

Complementary Case Management: BIH acts on the assumption that participants have the strength and resilience to improve their health for themselves and their fami-lies. Through case management, participants receive guidance and referrals on a range of topics, including health insurance applica-tion assistance and family planning counsel-ing. Women become empowered to make positive choices in their life.